Bassin de la Villette Petanque

Bassin de la Villette

Where you find the smooth "Paris dirt" 

which I believe is a fine limestone gravel,

you will find people playing Petanque.  

It is not a game limited to the "old timers" you see in Louxembourg Gardens

 or Tuileries, but a game enjoyed by friends 

and family of of ages, gender, and generations.

bon weekend

Bassin de la Villette

75019, Paris

Bassin de la Villette - la vie quotidienne

Bassin de la Villette

 

 

 

This is a scene far from the tourist crowds of Paris,

but is a favorite spot for the Parisians on a Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Pétanque (more games than I could count),

picnics among friends,

multi-generation families out for a water-side stroll,

children at play riding trotinettes...

 

 

There is something here for everyone.

 

 

 

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

 

 



 

 

 



Bassin de la Villette - pétanque

Bassin de la Villette

On a Sunday afternoon 

you will find many groups of people playing pétanque.  

We found a foursome of twenty-somethings 

enjoying a game with a man and a woman on each team.  

So much for thinking that only 

little old French men play pétanque.

Quai de la Loire

Bassin de la Villette

75019, Paris

Pétanque XXIII

Pétanque

Jardin des Tuileries

I used to believe that this was only a game in Paris for men of a certain age, but have discovered that it is played by all ages, men and women.  Once you get away from Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin du Luxembourg you will see a greater variety in the players.

Do you see two groups of children?

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Bassin de la Villette - pétanque XXII

Bassin de la Villette

If you really want to be among the Parisians, take a stroll along the quais of Bassin de la Villette on any weekend.  It is a delightful spot for a picnic and for watching people.

Perhaps you will stop in Bar l'Ourcq for some 

boules and a game of pétanque with friends.

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

Bassin de la Villette - Pétanque

Pétanque

The game is not just for older men in Paris.  

This area on the bank of Bassin de la Villette 

is filled with people of all ages, families, young friends, 

all enjoying an afternoon of this popular game.

Perhaps we will try our skill this week

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

Pétanque X - Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg

On my next trip to Paris I would like to play a game of Pétanque

but the regulars of Jardin du Luxembourg (and Tuileries)

would not likely embrace this American beginner.

Perhaps a trip to Bassin de la Villette in the 19ème 

would be a better place to start.

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris

Pétanque et un parapluie

Jardin des Tuileries

Never daunted by a few drops of rain, 

these gentlemen gather daily to play their games of pétanque.  

A well-worn parapluie* provides scant protection from the deluge this day.

Joining the City Daily Photo Blogs

for February's Theme Day 

"umbrellas"

*parapluie = umbrella

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Métro Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries - pétanque?

Jardin des Tuileries

In the steady rain, the serious still play pétanque

It was not a slight drizzle but more rain than I have seen in Paris before.  

They were drenched but did not seem to mind.

(taken a week ago on October 6th)

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

 

Pétanque?

Jardin du Luxembourg

Rather than an intense game of Pétanque among the masters of the game,

it appears that I found them taking a break.

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris



Bassin de la Villette - Pétanque

In the long promenade around Bassin de la Villette,

one can see many games of Pétanque and players of all ages. 

 

Although this man seemed quite intense

let me assure you that it was a lively, spirited game among friends,

including women.

(Couldn't this be an Olympic sport?)

 

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

Pétanque - Jardin du Luxembourg

Although I have never played Pétanque, one can learn much by watching. 

The guys playing in Le Luco* on a Sunday afternoon were experts in form and accuracy. 

A few fine points:

All of the balls are a dull silver color without any special markings,

but everybody seems to know which ones are theirs.  Actually, they come in different sizes, weights, groove patterns, and hardness.

Do you see the pendant around his neck? 

It is a cord with a boule lifter magnet, perfect for picking up his boules

without stooping over.

Don't forget about the soft cloth to wipe off grit from the boules

(*Le Luco - the nickname for Luxembourg Gardens)

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris



Pétanque - IV

The casual atmosphere in the park between Quai de la Loire and the bank of Bassin de la Villette made it simple to take photos, candid shots of friends and families playing Pétanque. 

I wish that you could hear the symphony of sounds with the "clink" of the balls, the crunch of the limestone, and the background of easy laughter.


Bassin de la Villette
Quai de la Loire
19ième arr.

Pétanque avec des amis

Although I have seen mostly older gentlemen playing pétanque in Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries, we found several mixed groups of twenty-somethings playing in the long promenade around Bassin de la Villette. The play was animated with squeals and shouts, mixed with quiet whispers of strategy.

I will show you more of this scene with some of the young women competing with the men in future posts.

Bassin de la Villette
Quai de la Loire

Jardin des Tuileries - Pétanque encore

In the evening of our first April day in Paris, Marie and I walked the short distance from the apartment to Jardin des Tuileries for some late sun, pre-sunset photos with Peter of Peter's Paris. You may recall the post a few weeks ago of the Pétanque balls on the ground with deep shadows.

Well, Monsieur is one of the two players that evening. I took this shot through the fence, waved, and asked permission to continue.

He took his Pétanque shot and then faced me fully and blew a kiss... an interesting game, Pétanque.


Jardin des Tuileries
along Rue de Rivoli

Jardin des Tuileries - Pétanque

Pétanque, or boules (balls), a game that was once forbidden to commoners...

Do you play?

Jardin des Tuileries

along Rue de Rivoli